Best Cyber Law, Data Privacy and Data Protection Lawyers in Arta

About Cyber Law, Data Privacy and Data Protection Law in Arta, Greece

Cyber law in Arta operates within the national legal framework of Greece and the wider European Union. That means the General Data Protection Regulation applies to organizations and individuals in Arta who process personal data, alongside Greek statutes that tailor and enforce EU rules. Whether you run a small hotel or cafe, an e-commerce shop, a healthcare clinic, a tech startup, or a municipal service, you handle personal data and are expected to follow clear rules on fairness, transparency, security, and accountability.

Data privacy and data protection law govern how personal information is collected, used, shared, stored, and secured. Cybersecurity law focuses on preventing and responding to incidents such as hacking, malware, phishing, and service disruptions. In practice, these areas overlap. For example, a ransomware attack against a business in Arta is both a cybersecurity incident and a data protection issue if personal data are affected.

Local organizations in Arta face common issues such as cookie consent and website notices, lawful marketing practices, employment monitoring, CCTV use, vendor and cloud contracts, cross-border data transfers, and incident response. Greek regulators actively enforce these rules, and non-compliance can result in significant fines and reputational harm.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

You may need legal help if you are responding to a data breach or cyberattack. A lawyer can coordinate incident response, assess notification duties, preserve evidence, work with forensic experts, and communicate with regulators and affected individuals.

If you launch or operate a website, app, or online store, a lawyer can draft or review your privacy policy, cookie banner settings, terms of use, and consent flows, ensuring they meet Greek and EU requirements and fit your business model.

For marketing by email, SMS, phone, or social media, a lawyer can help you set up compliant consent and opt-out processes, manage suppression lists, and assess soft opt-in options for existing customers.

If you use CCTV, access control, biometrics, GPS trackers, or employee monitoring software, a lawyer can verify legal bases, proportionality, notices to staff and visitors, data protection impact assessments, and retention schedules.

When you onboard suppliers or move to the cloud, a lawyer can negotiate data processing agreements, standard contractual clauses, and security warranties, and advise on international data transfers and vendor risk.

For public bodies, schools, clinics, and regulated operators, a lawyer can advise on when to appoint a Data Protection Officer, how to manage high-risk processing, and how to handle requests from data subjects.

If you are a victim of online fraud, identity theft, cyberstalking, or defamatory content, a lawyer can help with takedown requests, evidence preservation, police reports, and civil or criminal remedies.

Local Laws Overview

EU General Data Protection Regulation. Sets the core rules for processing personal data, including lawful bases, transparency, security, data subject rights, accountability, data protection by design and by default, and fines up to 20 million euros or 4 percent of global annual turnover.

Greek Law 4624-2019. Implements and supplements the GDPR in Greece. It clarifies the role of the Hellenic Data Protection Authority and provides national rules, including a child consent age of 15 for information society services, additional safeguards for public sector processing, and provisions on penalties and procedures.

Greek Law 3471-2006 on electronic communications privacy. Implements the EU e-Privacy rules in Greece. It regulates confidentiality of communications, cookies and similar tracking technologies, and direct marketing by electronic means. In general, non-essential cookies require prior opt-in consent, and marketing requires consent with a limited soft opt-in for existing customers for similar products, always with a clear opt-out.

Greek Law 4577-2018 on network and information systems security. Transposes the EU NIS Directive, setting cybersecurity obligations for operators of essential services and certain digital service providers, including incident reporting to national authorities. The EU has updated this framework with NIS2, which Member States must implement. Check the current Greek implementing measures and sectoral guidance, since obligations may have expanded to more sectors with stricter security requirements.

Greek Law 4727-2020 on digital governance and electronic communications. Sets rules for digital public services, electronic documents, and trust services, relevant to municipalities and public bodies in and around Arta.

Greek Law 4961-2022 on emerging technologies. Introduces governance and safeguards for emerging ICT uses such as AI and IoT, and includes cybersecurity measures and responsibilities for public and private actors.

Greek Penal Code and related statutes on cybercrime. Criminalize unauthorized access, illegal interception, data and system interference, distribution of malware, identity theft, and fraud. Cyber incidents can trigger both criminal investigations and data protection obligations if personal data are involved.

Key operational duties in Greece include maintaining a record of processing activities, implementing technical and organizational security measures, conducting data protection impact assessments for high-risk processing, appointing a Data Protection Officer where required, managing vendors as processors, honoring data subject rights, and notifying data breaches to the Hellenic Data Protection Authority within 72 hours when the breach risks individuals' rights and freedoms.

Enforcement and support bodies include the Hellenic Data Protection Authority for GDPR and e-privacy enforcement, the National Cyber Security Authority for cybersecurity policy and incident coordination, the Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy for confidentiality of communications, the Hellenic Police Cyber Crime Division for cybercrime, and the National CSIRT for technical advisories and coordination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as personal data under Greek law

Personal data are any information that identifies or can identify a living person. Examples include name, ID or tax number, contact details, IP address and device identifiers, location data, CCTV footage, customer profiles, and health or biometric data. Special categories such as health, biometric, and political opinions receive extra protection.

Do I need a privacy policy and a cookie banner for my website or app in Arta

Yes if you collect any personal data. A clear privacy notice must explain what you collect, why, legal bases, who you share with, retention, and user rights. For cookies and similar trackers, you must obtain opt-in consent before setting non-essential cookies such as analytics or advertising cookies. Provide a cookie banner with an equal accept and reject option and a detailed cookie notice. Strictly necessary cookies do not require consent but still require transparency.

When must I appoint a Data Protection Officer

You must appoint a DPO if you are a public authority or body, if your core activities involve regular and systematic monitoring of individuals on a large scale, or if you process special categories of data or criminal data on a large scale. Many municipalities, schools, clinics, and larger private organizations meet these criteria. Even if not mandatory, appointing a DPO or an external advisor can be prudent.

How quickly must I notify a data breach

You must notify the Hellenic Data Protection Authority without undue delay and, where feasible, not later than 72 hours after becoming aware of a personal data breach that is likely to result in a risk to individuals. If notification is late, you must explain why. If the breach is likely to result in a high risk, you must also inform affected individuals without undue delay. Maintain an internal breach register for all incidents.

Can I monitor employees or use CCTV and GPS on company property

Monitoring must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate. Inform employees and visitors clearly and in advance, define purposes, minimize data, and set strict retention. For CCTV, post visible notices, avoid filming public roads and staff break areas, and limit retention to the shortest period needed. For GPS and device monitoring, restrict to legitimate needs such as safety or asset protection, disable outside working hours where possible, and conduct a data protection impact assessment for high-risk monitoring. Consent is usually not valid in the employment context, so rely on other legal bases and safeguards.

Can I send marketing emails or SMS without consent

In general you need prior consent for electronic marketing. A limited soft opt-in is allowed when you obtained a customer's electronic details in the context of a sale, you market your own similar products or services, and you give a clear and easy opt-out at collection and in every message. Cold calls, automated calls, and direct messages via apps have additional restrictions. Always maintain suppression lists and honor opt-outs promptly.

How are international data transfers handled

Sending personal data outside the EU-EEA requires an appropriate transfer mechanism such as an EU adequacy decision, standard contractual clauses, binding corporate rules, or another GDPR transfer tool. You must also assess the destination country's laws and implement supplementary measures if needed. Map your data flows, know your processors and sub-processors, and document transfer impact assessments.

How is children's data treated in Greece

For information society services offered directly to a child in Greece, the age for valid child consent is 15. Below that age you need consent from the holder of parental responsibility, unless another legal basis applies. Schools and youth services should apply heightened transparency, minimization, and security, and avoid unnecessary profiling or tracking.

What should I do if I am a victim of online fraud, identity theft, or cyber abuse

Preserve evidence by taking screenshots, saving messages and headers, and keeping logs. Report the incident to the Hellenic Police Cyber Crime Division and to your bank if payments are involved. For impersonation or harmful content, file platform takedown requests. If personal data were compromised, assess GDPR breach obligations. A lawyer can coordinate with law enforcement, send legal notices, and pursue civil or criminal remedies.

What are the penalties for non-compliance

The Hellenic Data Protection Authority can impose GDPR administrative fines up to 20 million euros or 4 percent of worldwide annual turnover, issue reprimands, order processing bans, and require corrective measures. Breaches of e-privacy rules can also attract fines. Cybercrime offenses can lead to criminal penalties including imprisonment and fines. Reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and contract termination are common business impacts.

Additional Resources

Hellenic Data Protection Authority. Independent supervisory authority for GDPR and e-privacy in Greece. Publishes decisions and guidance, including on cookies, CCTV, and data breaches.

National Cyber Security Authority. Sets national cybersecurity strategy, coordinates incident reporting for essential and important entities, and issues security guidance.

Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy. Oversees the confidentiality of communications and the lawful interception framework.

Hellenic Police Cyber Crime Division. Receives reports of cybercrime, provides advice to the public, and conducts investigations.

National CSIRT Greece. Issues alerts and technical advisories, and supports incident response coordination.

Ministry of Digital Governance. Publishes digital governance policies, public sector data and security frameworks, and regulatory updates.

Chambers of commerce and local business associations in Epirus. Provide practical seminars and networking on compliance and cybersecurity for SMEs in Arta.

Professional bar associations in Greece. Help locate lawyers with experience in data protection and cybersecurity.

Next Steps

Assess your situation. Identify what happened, what data are involved, who is affected, and which systems or vendors are implicated. For incidents, contain and remediate quickly, preserve logs and evidence, and engage technical experts if needed.

Document your processing. Create or update your record of processing activities, data maps, vendor lists, and security controls. This will help a lawyer and regulators understand your risk and compliance posture.

Gather key materials. Collect your privacy policy, cookie banner settings, marketing consent records, employment notices, CCTV signage texts, contracts with processors, and any prior risk assessments or audits.

Check urgent legal deadlines. For data breaches, the 72-hour GDPR notification clock can be short. For cybercrime, timely police reports improve outcomes. For platform takedowns, act quickly to limit harm.

Consult a qualified lawyer. Look for counsel experienced in GDPR, e-privacy, and cybersecurity who understands the needs of businesses and public bodies in regional areas like Arta. Ask about scope, timelines, fees, and a practical compliance plan tailored to your risk profile.

Implement a workable plan. Prioritize high-risk gaps such as missing notices, lack of cookie consent, weak access controls, or inadequate vendor contracts. Train staff, test incident response, and schedule periodic reviews.

Stay informed. Monitor guidance from Greek authorities and EU developments, including changes related to the e-privacy framework and NIS2 implementation that may expand cybersecurity duties to more sectors.

This guide is informational and not legal advice. For advice on your specific circumstances in Arta, consult a licensed lawyer in Greece.